Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired

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Student Data Program

The student Data Program plays and important role for students with Visual Impairments and DeafBlindness in Texas. In January each year, two important counts are made on behalf of the Texas Education agency related to students with visual impairments and deafblindness by this agency. These are known respectively as the Registration of students in Texas with Visual Impairment and the DeafBlind child count.

Information is gathered about every student in Texas identified as having a visual impairment or deafblindness who is enrolled in a public, private, or charter school on the first Monday of January each year. The kinds of information that is gathered includes information about the degree and cause of the visual impairment, age of the child, location of the school and type of program where the child or student receives his/her education whether or not the child uses braille or large print and other information.

This student information is completely confidential. However, summary demographic data is used for long-term planning and identifying trends and issues for students with visual impairments and deafblindness at Texas Education Agency, the twenty Education Service Centers, Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) Blind Children’s Program, Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) Early Childhood Intervention Program (ECI), Texas Education Agency and Outreach Programs. Other agencies and organizations may request specific information to help them advocate for services for individuals with visual impairments and deafblindness at all age levels.

Additionally the number of students counted each year on the VI Registration generates funds based on number of students who are legally blind. These funds are used to purchase materials from the American Printing House for the Blind for local districts through the APH Materials Loan Program. Last year approximately 1.4 million dollars flowed to Texas and down to local districts to help pay for the specialized materials needed by students who are visually impaired and deafblind.

Summary Data for Students with DeafBlindness, January 2017

Students with Deafblindness, Recent Year Totals

2017

706

2016

729

2015

707

2014

723

2013

751

Students by ESC region

Region

2017

change

2016

1 Edinburg, Rio Grande Valley, Laredo

23

+1

22

2 Corpus Christi

11

-2

13

3 Victoria

9

-2

11

4 Houston

151

-13

164

5 Beaumont

14

-4

18

6 Huntsville, Bryan, Conroe

23

-1

24

7 Kilgore, Tyler, Lufkin

41

-3

44

8 Pittsburg, Texarkana, Paris, Sulphur Springs

8

+1

7

9 Wichita Falls

11

-1

12

10 Richardson, Dallas

130

No

130

11 Fort Worth

62

-3

65

12 Waco

28

+9

19

13 Austin, not including students at TSBVI

64

+5

59

14 Abilene

6

+1

*

15 San Angelo

5

-5

10

16 Amarillo

11

No

11

17 Lubbock

5

No

5

18 Midland

17

+3

14

19 El Paso

15

+1

14

20 San Antonio

57

-11

68

Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired

15

No

15

Statewide Totals

706

-23

729

Selected Age Groups

Birth-2 years old

31

3-5 years old

84

6-12 years old

289

13-15 years old

133

16 years and older

169

Other impairments

Physical

425

Intellectual

439

Behavior

35

Complex health care

339

Communication

589

Ethnicity

American Indian or Alaskan Native

8

Asian

25

Black (not Hispanic)

84

Hispanic

270

White (not Hispanic)

305

Pacific Islander

Fewer than 5

Two or more

12

Other impairments

Physical

425

Intellectual

439

Behavior

26

Complex health care

339

Communication

589

Degree of hearing loss

Mild (up to 40 dB)

81

Moderate (41-55 dB)

162

Moderately severe (56-70 dB)

134

Severe (71-90 dB)

113

Profound (91+ dB)

170

Documented Functional Hearing Loss

29

Further testing needed

14

Progressive hearing loss

Fewer than 5

Special types of Hearing Loss

Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD)

26

Auditory Neuropathy (ANSD)

28

Hearing in one ear only

60

Hearing Devices

Hearing Aid or Assistive Listening Device

432

Cochlear Implant

112

Degree of vision loss

Low vision (better than 20/200)

233

Legally blind

315

Light perception only

29

Totally blind

35

Documented functional vision loss

75

Further testing needed

5

Diagnosed progressive loss

14

Special types of vision loss

Cortical visual impairment (CVI)

206

Vision in one eye only

16

Uses corrective lenses

323

Miscellaneous

Has designated intervener

61

Receives services from RDSP

272

Etiologies (more than 10 students identified)

CHARGE Syndrome

76

Dandy Walker syndrome

10

Down syndrome

26

Goldenhar syndrome

13

Usher 1 syndrome

20

Usher II syndrome

6

Cytomegalovirus (CMV)

24

Hydrocephaly

17

Microcephaly

13

Other Pre-natal/congenital

0

Complications

26

Meningitis

10

Tumors

8

Other Post-natal complications

27

Complications of Prematurity

99

No determination of etiology

57

Statewide Results of Registration of Students in Texas with Visual Impairment

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